International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS) [Vol-7, Issue-10, Oct- 2020]

https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijaers.710.36 ISSN: 2349-6495(P) | 2456-1908(O)

Performance Evaluation of Sewage Treatment

Plant at Juet Campus, Guna (MP), India– A Case
Study
Revanuru Subramanyam

Department of Civil Engineering, The Papua New Guinea University of Technology, Lae 411, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea.

Abstract— Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) are recognized as the solution to domestic and industrial
wastewater treatment in developing countries. These are cheap, easy to construct and do not require high
skilled labor. This paper describes the performance evaluation of the STP located at Jaypee University of
Engineering & Technology (JUET) campus, Guna (MP), India. It includes testing of biochemical oxygen
demand (BOD), chemical oxygendemand (COD), total dissolved solids (TDS),total suspended solids (TSS) and
pH. Samples are collected and analyzed over eight months at five different sampling points i.e., inlet, and
effluents of aeration, equalization, pressure filter and outlet. The BOD, COD, TDS, and TSS average removal
efficiency were observed to be 57%, 68%, 12% and 40.43% respectively. The treated effluent values were
below the tolerance limitsspecified by Bureau of Indian Standards for sewage effluent discharged into surface
water sources and public sewers. The results demonstrated that STP is working very efficiently and
contributing to clean and healthy environment of the university campus.
Keywords— Biochemical oxygen demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Total dissolved solids, Total
suspended solids.

I. INTRODUCTION
Sewage is used water from residential, institutional,
and commercial and industrial establishments. In homes,
sewage includes liquid from toilets, baths, showers, kitchens,
sinks, washing machines and dishwashers. In many areas,
sewage also includes liquid waste from industry and
commercial establishments. The domestic sewage contains
99.9% water, 0.02-0.03% suspendedsolids and other organic
(70%) and inorganic (30%) substances. Inorganic
components include ammonia, chloride salts and metals.
Metal industries and mines also contribute to the inorganic.
Organic components include either nitrogenous compounds
like proteins and amino acids or non-nitrogenous compounds
like carbohydrates and lipids. Animal sewage is high in
protein and lipids and plant sewage is rich in cellulose and
lignin. Lipids in the form of fatty acids which escape
digestion in the digestive system account for the lipids in the
faeces. Sewage water normally comprises of fungi, protozoa,
algae, bacteria and viruses. In addition storm runoff burdened
with harmful substances via run off from roads, parking lots
and rooftops can harm our fresh water systems. Sewage
contains substances such as human waste, food scraps, oils,
soaps and chemicals. Human waste naturally contains
bacteria that can cause disease. Once water becomes infected
with these bacteria, it becomes a health hazard. The disposal
of untreated or poorly treated sewage into surface water
bodies in urban areas is common in most developing
countries, including Zimbabwe [1].If raw sewage directly
discharges into streams causes increased algae, reduced
oxygen and murkiness destroy the ability of a stream or lake
to support wildlife, and all of the fish, frogs and other life
forms quickly die. That’s why it is essential to build sewage
treatment plants (STPs) and enforce laws against the release
of raw sewage into the environment.
STP plays a vital role in the process of removing the
contaminants from sewage to produce liquid and solid
(sludge) suitable for discharge to the environment or for
reuse. Many countries in the world contain limited fresh
water resources. Hence, after proper treatment of sewage, can
be reused for agricultural purposes. The complete treatment

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS)
https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijaers.710.36
of sewage accomplish by a sequential combination of various
physical unit operations, and chemical and biological unit
processes. The general yardstick of evaluating the
performance of STP is the degree of reduction of BOD, and
suspended solids, which constitute organic pollution [2]. The
performance efficiency of STP depends not only on proper
design and construction but also on good operation and
maintenance[3]. The performance evaluation of STP is
extremely useful as it provides information on how the
system is working and possible to identify drawbacks for
betterment.
About STP
Fig. 1 provides flow diagram of STP located at
Jaypee University of Engineering & Technology (JUET)
campus, Guna (MP), India. The STP has a capacity to treat
700 m3/d of wastewater from the campus. It’s a modern
small-scale treatment plant where treatment of sewage takes
place and produced wastewater suitable for reuse in irrigation
or garden supply. The wastewater generated from the
Fig. 1. Flow Chart of JUET’s Sewage Treatment Plant
Carbon reduction and ammonia conversion occurs in aerobic
mode and sometimes achieved in a single reactor while
nitrate occurs in anoxic mode. After that treated water gets
collected in the treated water tank. The chlorination of
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[Vol-7, Issue-10, Oct- 2020]
ISSN: 2349-6495(P) | 2456-1908(O)
academic block, hostels and faculty accommodation were
collected by means of sewer pipe line. This wastewater
screened through a bar screen chamber to remove large
debris such as sticks, leaves, trash and other large particles
which may interfere with subsequent purification steps then
it passes to the equalization tank where it is retained. This
tank equalizes the flow rate into subsequent parts of the
treatment system. While entering the effluent into aeration
tank, urea and DAP (Di-Ammonium phosphate) were added
as nutrient for the growth of microorganisms. In the aeration
tank air was continuously introduced, which bring about
satisfactory aeration of sewage. Sewage also gets thoroughly
mixed up with the activated sludge during its downward
journey. Then it passes to the settler tank, where sludge
settled and water goes to raw water tank. The settled sludge
was treated in sludge drying beds. Then it treated in the
pressure filters which basically aerated filters. The dual
purpose of this media is to support highly active biomass that
is attached to it and to filter suspended solids.
treated water was done so that treated water should be free of
pathogenic (disease causing) microorganisms that cause
illnesses as typhoid fever, dysentery and cholera. Then the
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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS)
https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijaers.710.36
treated wastewater is used for gardening, irrigation and
recreational purposes.
Dimensions and specifications of the treatment units:
Screen chamber: It is provided with 20 mm equal spacing
made from 6 mm thick MS flats.
Equalisation tank: One rectangular tank of 8 m length, 6 m
width and 2.5 m liquid depth.
Aeration tanks: Three numbers of aeration tank of 8 m
length, 5 m width and 2.5 m depth each are provided. There
are three numbers (2 on duty and 1 stand by) of blowers with
capacity of 175m3/h and 0.4 kg/cm2.
Settler tank: It was one number constructed with RCC and
size of rectangular tank was 8 m x 5 m x 2.5 m
Sludge drying beds: There are five identical RCC
rectangular tans, having 2.5 m x 2 m x 1 m.
Raw water tank: It was constructed with RCC and size of
rectangular tank was 8 m x 4 m x 2 m
Pressure filter and carbon filter: These filters have
capacity of 35 cumecs each.
Treated water tank: It consists of one rectangular tank of 8
m length, 5.5 m width and 4.5 m depth.
In view of the above scenario, the present study has
been undertaken to find actual treatment ability of STP by
BOD
Values
(mg/l)
Fig. 2 Variation of BOD during the period of data collection
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[Vol-7, Issue-10, Oct- 2020]
ISSN: 2349-6495(P) | 2456-1908(O)
collecting and testing samples in various treatment units. In
addition to give suggestions for further to improve the
efficiency of STP.
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Performance appraisal has been carried out for a period of
eight months (September 2009 to April 2010) by comparing
the concentrations of pollutants at the inlet and outlet of the
treatment unit. The grab samples were collected once in a
month of September, November, January, March and April
and composite samples in the month of April.The samples
were collected at five different units of the treatment plant,
namely, a) Influent to the treatment plant, b) Effluent of i)
aeration tank ii) settler tank iii) pressure filter unit and iv)
outlet unit, and analyzed as outlined in the standard methods
for the examination of water and wastewater [4]. The
samples were analyzed for various parameters like pH, 5-day
BOD, COD, TSS and TDS.
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Biological oxygen demand
Fig. 2 shows the variation of BOD pattern from influent to
effluent of STP. The BOD values decreased in the effluent
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 International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS) [Vol-7, Issue-10, Oct- 2020]
https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijaers.710.36 ISSN: 2349-6495(P) | 2456-1908(O)

coming from various treatment units. It has been observed that BOD values in the month of April are higher than the remaining
months. The treatment efficiency for the composite sample collected in the month of April reduces ~ 25% by aeration unit and
overall reduction takes place by 54%. The aeration tank is considered as a most important step in activated sludge process as it
provides DO to the sewage, facilitates rapid decomposition of organic matter.
Table 1. Average efficiency of STP during observation period.

Table 1 shows that 57% of average BOD reduction takes maximum value of BOD as 4.1 mg/l indicates does not
place in the STP during the observation period against the require any treatment.
expected value of 70-85%. This slight decrease is attributed 3.2 Chemical oxygen Demand
to the recycling of old sludge that contains fewer
Fig.3 represents variation of COD pattern during the period
microorganisms, besides insufficiency of Mixed Liquor
of testing the performance. This figure illustrates the
Suspended Solids for the aerobic digestion of the organic
decreasing of COD values of influent at end of different
matter [5].The microorganisms such as bacteria are
treatment units. The influent COD values varies between
responsible for decomposing of organic waste in the sewage.
40.1 to 47.6 mg/l. Table 1 shows organic matter in the form
The tolerance limit for sewageeffluent discharged into
of COD decreased by 8.22%, 28.51%, 54.84%, and 68% at
surface water sources and public sewers as 20 mg/l [6].
the end of aeration unit, settler unit, pressure filter unit and
However, sewage from JUET campus has been observed
outlet unit respectively.Table 1 shows that 68% of average

CO D
September November January
March April (Grab) April (Composite)
51
46
COD
41
Values 36
(mg/l) 31
26
21
16
11
6
1
INLET AER ATION S ETTLER FILTER OUTLET

Fig. 3 Variation of COD during the period of data collection

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS)
https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijaers.710.36
COD reduction takes place in the STP during the observation
period against the expected value of 70-80%. This may be
attributed to insufficient number of microorganisms present
in the aerobic unit. The tolerance limit for sewage effluent
discharged into surface water sources and Public Sewers as
250mg/l [6]. However, sewage from JUET campus has been
observed maximum value of COD as 47.6 mg/l indicates
does not require any treatment.
3.3 TSS & TDS
The average values of TSS and TDS in the influent sewage
are 12.2 mg/l and 293 mg/l respectively. Table 1 shows TSS
are removed by 14.7%, 33.33%, 38.57%, and 40.43% at the
end of aeration unit, settler unit, pressure filter unit and outlet
unit respectively. The maximum reduction in TSS is 40.43%
against the expected value of 85-90%. The TDS are removed
by 2.93%, 5.8%, 9.69%, and 11.54% at the end of aeration
unit, settler unit, pressure filter unit and outlet unit
respectively. The percentage reduction in TDS is only
11.54% is much below the expected removal of 70-80%
indicating poor efficiency in terms of TDS removal. The
sewage contains more quantity of dissolved solids and
Inlet
8
7.5
Values of pH
6.5
5.5
5
September November
Fig. 4 Variation of pH during the observation period
IV. CONCLUSIONS
The performance studies on the STP located at JUET campus
accompanied for a period of eight months indicated overall
performance was satisfactory. The BOD, COD, TDS, and
TSS average removal efficiency were observed to be 57%,
68%, 12% and 40.43% respectively. In order to achieve
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[Vol-7, Issue-10, Oct- 2020]
ISSN: 2349-6495(P) | 2456-1908(O)
meager amount of suspended solids. Bouwer [7] reported that
removal of TDS is of greater concern as it affects the reuse of
wastewater for agricultural purposes, by decreasing the
hydraulic conductivity of irrigated land if TDS content in the
water exceeds 480 mg/l. The tolerance limit for sewage
effluent discharged into surface water sources and Public
Sewers for TSS as 30 mg/l [6]. However, influent sewage
from JUET campus has been observed maximum value of
TSS as 12.2 mg/l indicates does not require any treatment.
3.4 pH
Fig.4 represents variation of pH pattern during the
observation period. This figure illustrates the increasing of
pH values of influent at end of different treatment units. The
minimum value 5.36 observed in the month of April (Grab)
and maximum value of 7.7 observed in the month of
November. At initial stages, the organic matter in the sewage
starts decomposition and release various acids. That is the
reason to observe pH values at inlet is between 5.36 and 5.7,
indicates in acidic range. Later on the sewage starts
stabilization at various treatment units and finally pH values
observed on alkaline range.
pH
Aeration Settler Filter Outlet
January March April (Grab) April
(Composite)
better performance, fresh sludge with higher microorganism
populations should be recycled and the aerators must be
operated continuously. The treated effluent can be safely
reused for gardening, and irrigation purposes.
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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS) [Vol-7, Issue-10, Oct- 2020]
https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijaers.710.36 ISSN: 2349-6495(P) | 2456-1908(O)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The study was conducted as part of a final year student
project in Bachelor of Civil Engineering in Civil Engineering
Department, Jaypee University of Engineering &
Technology, Guna-473 226, Madhya Pradesh (INDIA). The
author grateful to Mr. S. Rahul Kumar and Mr. S. Swarnesh
who worked under his supervision and established the basis
of field sampling and data collection.

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